On the first tee at Yarra Yarra for Day 2, the third best player on the PGA TOUR Champions this past year sidled up to his younger playing partners to introduce himself. ‘Richard Green’ he says, offering his hand with a smile from beneath his trademark sunglasses to his two teenage female playing partners.

For many, it might be the first time they’ve met him but also, perhaps the first they’ve even heard of him. It’s a nod to this point in time that having a well-developed knowledge of some of the history of the game from a generation or two ago is not a given. Tournament host Geoff Ogilvy noted that even though ‘well all did’ when he came up through the ranks, this generation ‘may’ not.

In interviews with players on Day 1, this became distinctly apparent when a player commented on not only his own game, but one of his other playing partners in the same age group from their three-ball who had also ‘gone alright’. Unmentioned was the third player (not Richard Green) who had won the national opens of two countries, a fact not known by the youngster until a follow up question was asked.

‘Dick’ Green, as he’s started to become known in some U.S. golf podcast circles, has just come off the best year of his career, despite not winning. Close to US$2.2 million in earnings and close shaves with senior major championships in his second year on the Champions is just reward for maintaining an ageless swing that graced the Australian and European Tours, where he won a handful of times. 

His performances across 2024 had many smiling, not the least this event’s co-host Mike Clayton who loves the fact an ‘unknown’ like Green has plundered riches from the high-profiled elite of largely American players.  

Teeing it up in the Sandbelt Invitational this year, Green admitted to being ‘a little rusty’ having stashed the clubs after his runner-up finish at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup in October.

There are only a few trees remaining down the left of the 18^th hole at Yarra Yarra these days but unfortunately for Green, he found the base of one of them on the way to an untidy double-bogey finish to his second round. However, it was water off a duck’s back to the Victorian who is pleased to be here for reasons other than furthering his own agenda.

“It’s not about us this week, it’s about the juniors and the kids playing here. If I was trying to be competitive out here, I probably would have practiced for a few weeks beforehand. But, I haven’t done anything.” Green said.

“I’m here for the kids and to give them a good time, have a chat and give them some experience.”

Green said that he’s also here ‘for Geoff’ and to support his Foundation for their role in providing opportunities for young players. As others have noted before him, these are opportunities that were few and far between when he was their age.

“I would have loved to have had the opportunity to play with Greg Norman and the guys I looked up to in that generation, but it wasn’t there. We had some opportunities to play with some Victorian PGA club pros which was some sort of experience, but not to the level that this event could provide.”

“I’ve played with a young guy from WA yesterday (Spencer Harrison) – really good kid, has the right temperament and hits the ball really well. Even with Jazy (Roberts) today. She’s 19 years old now and could probably turn professional tomorrow. I’d heard of her over the years, playing the Vic Open and stuff.”

“Not sure they would have heard of me from a bar of soap, though.” he laughed.

Whether that is the case or not arguably goes to a deeper issue as to why players of his ilk are not able to play more regularly on the Tour at home, and therefore retain some visibility for and be accessible to younger players.

“I think the young ones sort of suffer as a result because they’re thrust into that life as a professional without being able to turn to some of the older players for guidance.” he continued.   

Access to Green, Allan, Matthew Griffin, David McKenzie or even younger major tour members in David Micheluzzi, Su Oh and Karis Davidson in a relaxed, yet competitive, atmosphere this week is something for the younger players to treasure. 

So long as they can figure out who they are from a bar of soap.